The 8th Meeting of the National Traders’ Welfare Board (NTWB) was held at Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi, under the chairmanship of Shri Sunil J. Singhi. Addressing the meeting, Joint Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Shri Sanjiv, highlighted the importance of the retail trade sector in the Indian economy and encouraged Members to enhance awareness about the initiatives and activities of the NTWB, including virtual interactive sessions. He appreciated the leadership of the Chairperson and observed that the progress achieved by the Board reflects effective coordination and a clear vision.

The Chairperson, Shri Sunil, apprised the Board of the major initiatives undertaken towards achieving its objectives. He informed that representations received from trade associations and Members had been forwarded to the concerned Ministries and Departments for necessary action. He invited suggestions from Members to further enhance awareness and outreach of welfare schemes related to the retail trade sector.

He also briefed the Board on the next-generation Goods and Services Tax (GST) reforms and their positive impact on traders and consumers. He referred to the nationwide traders-led campaign, “GST Bachat Utsav”, which reflects the trading community’s appreciation of the transformative GST reforms implemented under the leadership of the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. He reiterated the Government’s commitment to creating a conducive business environment through simplified procedures, reduced compliance burden, financial support and improved infrastructure.

The Board emphasized the importance of the ‘Vocal for Local’ initiative to boost indigenous industries and promote locally made products. In this context, discussions were held on taking the ‘Swadeshi Sankalp Daud’ nationwide from 12th to 23rd January, encouraging citizens across the country to participate and embrace the spirit of Swadeshi in both production and consumption.

The Chairperson further stressed the importance of digital transformation in the retail sector and urged small traders to leverage platforms such as the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) to expand market access and enhance income opportunities. It was highlighted that future policies and schemes will continue to prioritize traders’ welfare through capacity building, financial support, social security measures, market linkages and transparent grievance redressal mechanisms. Reaffirming the mission and vision of the Board, the Chairperson stated that sustained efforts would ensure traders remain competitive, secure and prosperous in the evolving economic landscape.

The meeting was attended by non-official Members representing various trade associations and States and Union Territories, along with ex-officio Members from nine Ministries and Departments of the Government of India

National Traders' Welfare Board reviews retail initiatives, highlighting GST reforms, vocal for local and digital market access. The Board forwarded representations from trade associations to relevant Ministries, sought suggestions to increase awareness of welfare schemes, and prioritized GST reform benefits, Vocal for Local promotion and digital transformation through platforms like the Open Network for Digital Commerce to expand market access. Future policy focus includes capacity building, financial support, social security, market linkages and transparent grievance redressal for trader welfare.